 | Lady Layard’s Journal Go to a Date Search the Journal |
|
Previous Entry
|
Following Entry
| |
14 May 1899 — Budleigh Salterton | |
Sunday. 14th [May 1899]. Edgar was very ill today. He is terribly changed in appearance, dreadfully emaciated & very white & when was exhausted looks dreadful. Leo & I went to morning service & heard an excellent sermon– On our way home Leo poured out his wrath at his stepmother & every spare moment when we were not in Edgar’s room she discanted on Leo’s shortcomings. I did all I could to keep the peace & smooth them down. One can see that Edgar is anxious & feels they will not agree when he is gone. He begged me to continue to be friends with Jane. He was very pitiful when I [sic] said how hard it was to leave those he loved here & thought that the sun would shine—& the winds blow the flowers come out the seasons come & go & he would not be here to see it. I did not know what to say. I spoke of God the great Spirit to whom we were all going & he said he did not know & how could it be. I said how & where was not given to us to know but we must be content to leave it & wait. He asked me to read to him Tennyson’s Poem the May Queen & I did so with great difficulty for my throat choked & he became almost hysterical. I had to read in my most indifferent voice & stop to put hard practical questions to him to be able to get thro’ it. In the afternoon he slept & then woke very faint & said he was going & clung to his wife & wept aloud– After taking some food he recovered & talked abt Dreyfus & other things but looked very ill. After 5 o’cl tea I went for a walk in the lanes with Leo for an hour. Returned to supper at 8.30. Sat a while with Edgar who was very ailing till bed time—then packed & went to bed. | |
|
Previous Entry
|
Following Entry
| |